J Korean Radiol Soc.  1995 Aug;33(2):205-211.

MR Findings of Vascular Masses of the Head and Neck: Differential Diagnosis and Interventional Treatment Planning

• Kim HH
• Kang IW
• Lee KW
• Suh HK
• Cho SY
• Kim KS
• No YS
• Oh SJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
To characterize the MR findings for a differential diagnosis and to make a plan for treatment by interventional technique of the vascular masses with/without hypertrophic feeding vessels of the head and neck. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: Seven patients with vascular masses of the head and neck proved by pathology, angiography, clinical findings were included. Vascular masses included 4 venous malformations, a capillary hemangioma, and a hemangiopericytoma, a hemangioma combined with arteriovenous malformation. 7 patients had MR studies with 1.0T and 1.5T using routine TI-, T2- weighted spin echo sequences, and contrast enhancement. 4 MR angiography, 3 inversion recovery, and 6 contrast angiography were studied from 7 patients
RESULTS
All vascular masses demonstrated higher than muscle signal intensity on Tl-weighted images, bright signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and prominent enhancement, except AV hemangioma combined with prominent arteriovenous malformation on postcontrast scan. Three hemangiomas demonstrated distinct serpiginous signal voids. Venous malformations demonstrated venous lakes seen as homogenous regions of high signal intensity and phleboliths seen as low signal foci on images. Inversion recovery was the best pulse sequence for evaluation of the extent of lesion.
CONCLUSION
MR findings of the vascular masses of the head and neck are useful in delineating the extent of the disease, differentiating venous malformation or cavernous hemangioma from other hemangiomatous lesions including hypertrophic feeding vessels, and making a plan for treatment by interventional technique also.

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Arteriovenous Malformations
Diagnosis, Differential*
Head*
Hemangioma
Hemangioma, Capillary
Hemangioma, Cavernous
Hemangiopericytoma
Humans
Lakes
Neck*
Pathology